Berlin, Holocaust Memorial
♫ ♥ Paul Kalkbrenner: Das Gezabel
Summer in Berlin
SUMMER IN BERLIN
Ewerk Berlin, 1993 - 1997
Berlin
Siegessäule in Berlin by Mark Hyland
A baby hippo, born at the Berlin Zoo on October 23, has been delighting keepers and guest alike. The as yet unnamed calf remained behind the scenes in the pools for several days to bond with it’s mother Nicloe. Then she confidently led the baby to the water in the exhibit, and introduced the little one to the other members of the herd.
This is the third baby for this experienced mom, and the baby’s interactions with her siblings and the other adults is wonderful to watch. The wee one made this public debut on Nov. 1. Underwater, they run or walk along the bottom with their ears and nostrils clamped shut by special small muscles. Their heart rate slows, allowing them to stay under for up to 30 minutes, though they commonly come up for air every 6-7 minutes.
Hippopotamus live on both land and water. Their natural habitat is grassland where there is permanent still water that is not too deep. Sadly, this species has been declared endangered because of habitat loss due to man’s encroachment, and because they are hunted for meat.
Weeks after a teenage boy emerged in Berlin claiming to have lived in the woods for five years, people from across the world have come forward claiming to have links to him. The 17-year old boy, who calls himself Ray, says he does not remember where his family is from and that he followed his compass north to reach the German city after his father died. He appeared at Berlin’s city hall on 5 September and was taken in by a youth emergency centre. In September the woman supervising Ray’s case said he was in good health and that he may be allowed to move in with foster parents. Since then reports have emerged about a Swiss couple who claim that Ray is their grandson. But German authorities have stated that people from all over the world have claimed to know, or be related, to the teenager.
Police are investigating all of these claims and say that if they prove credible there is the possibility of a DNA test, although under German law the teenager could not be forced to take such a test. Where is Ray from? There was initial speculation that he may be British because he spoke English and only a few words of German. But since he turned up in Berlin, questions have been raised about his story. His tent was in a better condition than expected after being in the forest for so long and he was in good health. Berlin police spokesman Thomas Neuendorf: “He was clean and wearing clean clothes. He just doesn’t look like a boy who lived in the forest for any amount of time. Maybe he is telling us a story that isn’t true and that is why he doesn’t want to go public.His fingernails were well kept and his hands soft. Such things raise questions.”
Donna Summer Live in Berlin
